Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-11
HIS FIRST FRENCH BREAKFAST,
\ Correspondents struggles With the
Tongue of the GaulS.

>y.rt.lt ,D-r. ,pa.,...ru, uf The Esgl%sr.
PARIS. May 2G. "Deicuner I'M frame -
ceutimes." Sign over doorway, Rue st.
Denis. Second morning in Paris. Refer
ring to guide book found it meant break
fact for one frame fifteen centimes.' Con
cluded to deieune Went in. Met a lady
behind a sort OF pulpit. Lady talked to me-
Couldn't make her out. Shook my head.
Hung out foreign dag. Lady pointed mp
stairs. Place for breakfast. Didn't want
to 20. Couldn't make any excuse to get
out Had Ia go up because | had uu Ian
guage to make an excuse in To get out
Found long table aud forty Frenchmcn
at it. Don't think an American ever stay
ed in there before. Waiter put me on
seat.
No written bill of fare Verbal. Waiter
did the verb business in French. Poured
ii into me- Couldn't make ont word.
Waiter waited. Looked mt hiln helplesSly.
Waiter did il all over again. Caught At
last at a word. marengO. 'Oul, SAID;
"niarengo Bon, Bring marengo.' Wait
or started after marengO. Wondered what
il would be fish, flesh, tOwl-Or soup.
Turned out some sort of meat plcntItully
spiced and plentiully grayicd Made It
/ last as long Us / could. Dreaded that
| waiter and his verbal bill of fare. Waiter
darted ON my plate. Bore it away before
| meant he should. Gabhltd at me again.
/ Heard Il welcome sound. "Pumms de
/ tcrrc. Potatoes" Called out: 'Oui,
uongshure. We, madame: portray vouS
potatoes mean pom day tur. We, we. ~
| Found forty Freuchmrn at table all look
! iny at me and trying not to smile. Polite
nation. Very. Never laugh in your
/ face. Perpetual laugh inside. See
points very quick Couceited lot, though.
/ Think Paris the center of universe. Moth
| ing hut sand lots and Savages outside.
/ W.iter brought potatoes, stewcd with
more gravy. Very good. Made 'em last
long as possible. Felt very uncomiort-
/ abla. Knew wasn't ordering breakfast
ship shape and man fashion after French
styIe should have commenced with =
slice OF sausage thin as wafer ana "
spriy of crrss. Make that last half an
I hour. One Connecticut river Yankee can
, swallow half u French breakfast at one
muuthiul Potato eaten up. Waiter
came again. More gabble Fired back IN
/ East Haddam French. Ask waiter To re-
peat his observation. Had him there. cot
even. Couldn't understand me. GaulS
at table startled. Unknown tongue to
them. Caught at another word in
waiter : torrent of unintclligibIlity. Fro
maze, Cheese What kind? Twenty
different kinds of cheese in France. Hard
cheese, soft cheese sage cheese, goat :
| cheese. cheeSy cheese, green cheese ami
cheese that runs like molaSseS when you
bust its upper crust. Cheese and a spoon
4 ml of lam. Dessert, expected to he
twenty minutes finishing that, according
to Parisian meal regulations. Did 1t IN
two minutes, New York ten cent reStaur-
ant STYLE. Got up TO leave. Could not
find nv way out Waiter lei me down
stairs. Found the lady behind the pulpit
at door. Rakes in the cash. Paid her.
/ Twenty-Five cents Tor half bottle OF wine,
as much bread as / could eat, marInGot,
potatoes and cheese. Could have had
more il I'd talked Frenchy French. Bread
IN Parisat restaurant table put on by the
loaf. Not in Scant gibletS rs with us, who
raise bread for the world.